Ladder



M. BAUER Oct. 15, 1929.

LADDER Filed May 11. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v Muff/x7 Bauen,

Z BY 6% %TTORNEY5 5 M. BAUER LADDER Filed May 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 21: W4 1 I 1 I I T INVENTOR M0/7'7/7 5670a; BY 5 iTTORNEYS Oct. 15,1929.M. BAUER LADDER Filed May 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Mar/7'0Bauzr M. BAUER Oct. 15, 1929.

LADDER 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 11 w n R 1 0% M m5 [.R E I V n vN A Patented Oct. ,15, 1929 MARTIN BAUER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO LADDERApplication filed May 11, 1927. Serial No. 190,454.

The present invention relates tocertain improvements in ladders adaptedto support painters scaffolds and the like. The principal feature of theinvention lies in the provision of a ladder, which without adjustmentwill permit the scaffolds to be so placed, by a single operator, as torender entire surfaces readily accessible throughout their verticalextent. In explanation of this feature, it is to be understood as apremise, that fully 85% of frame houses are constructed with either a 16or 18 foot studding. Allowing two feet for the foundation wall, andanother foot for the upper and lower joists or plates, it follows thatthe most favorable arrangement of scaffoldingis one which will permitthe painter, without unnecessary readjustment, to cover the verticaldistance of 17 or 19 feet between the foundation walls and roof.Consequently, each of my improved ladders, of

which two will ordinarily be used, will include a scaffold jackextending forwardly of the ladder at, say, five or six feet from theground, a rearwardly extending jack 5 or 6 r feet above the lower jack,anda second rearwardly extending jack from 2 or 3 feet above the other.The lower jack is placed forwardly of the ladder in order to bring theoperator close to the wall, while the upper jacks are placed rearwardlyof the ladder in order to maintain a better balance and. to obviate thenecessity of providing extended spacers between the upper end oftheladder and the wall. In the case of a 16 foot studding, scaffoldingwould need to be arranged only on the lowest and intermediate jacks ofthe two ladders, while in the case of an 18 foot studding the top jackswould also be utilized.

While the ladders explained above are adapted to support the scaffoldingin such a.

position and folded into the plane of the ladder so as to be out of theway.

Vith these general features in view I shall now proceed to describe myinvention in an illustrative embodiment as shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a general view showing a pair of my improved ladders inoperative position to receive the scaffolding, also a single ladder asextended with the jacks rendered inoperative.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the lower or base portion of anextensible ladder according to my invention.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of Figure 2 taken between the rails.5

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. V

Figure 5 Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the upperextension section of the ladder. v

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of Figure is a section on the line5-5 of l 6 taken between the rails.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6. b

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig ure 7.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 7. I

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 01 Figure 7. 1 f

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the upper or'extension section of theladder showing both of the upper jacks, one being represented inoperative position and the other in inoperat1ve position. i V

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of Figure 12 taken between therails.

Figure 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-16 of Figure 18, and 5 Figure 17is a section on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Referring first of allto the general asse1nbly of the ladder, 2O denotesthe lower or base section comprising rails or stiles 21 and 22,

and rungs 23. The upper ends of the rails are provided with brackets 24and 25, extending forwardly of the rails and serving to mountroller-s26. The inner surfaces of the rails are provided withlongitudinal grooves as at 27, and into these grooves take lugs 28secured to the extension portion 29 of the ladder adjacent its lowerend. The upper portion of section 29 is guided between rollers 26 andrungs 23 of the bottom section. The section 29 comprises side rails 30and 31 and rungs 32. Sheaves 33 and 34, through which is reeved a rope35, are secured adjacent the top and bottom of the main and extensionsections in the manner well understood in the art so that the two arelongitudinally adjustable. On a base 36, secured to two adjacent rungs32, is a pawl member 37 adapted to engage rungs 23 to retain thesections in the desired relation. Pawl 37 is pivoted to base 36 by meansof a stud 36 secured to the latter. A spring 39 loosely coiled on a hub40 engages with one end the stud 41 on pawl 37. The upper end of thespring, in order to vary its force, may be selectively positioned behindlugs 42 formed on a plate 43 secured to member 36. The spring tends toforce the segment 37 in the direction of the arrow (Figure 7) so that ittakes the position illustrated, its movement being limited by thecontact of finger 44 with rung 32. Finger 45 is thus adapted to engage aselected rung 23, but may be brought out of such en gagement throughmanipulation of cord 46 in the usual manner.

Although the upper jacks extend in the opposite direction to the lowerjack, their structure is the same so that a description of onewill applyto all. Referring then to Fig ures 12 and 13, the jack thereinillustrated comprises a cross member 47 formed of angle iron, andsecured to each end of this cross or mounting member is a cap 43 havingaxially extending pins 48 serving as trunnions. These trunnions arereceived in bearings formed in hubs 49 of plates 50 which are fixed tothe inner surfaces of the rails. Secured to the center portion of crosspiece 47 is a tongue or supporting element 51, preferably in rectangularrelation thereto, and this relation is rigidly maintained by a plate 52connecting the two. A brace member 53 is pivoted at one end to the freeextremity of tongue51. This brace is likewise preferably formed from anangle bar, one of the sides of which is extended beyond the other toform an car 54 adapted to engage in a slot 55 in a specially constructedrung 56. The end 57 of the other side of brace 53 abuts against rung 56so that'when the parts are in the described relation, tongue 51 issecurely blocked in operative position. A latch 58 engages a recess 59of the brace to lock it in engagement with rung 56. This rung consistsof an angle bar rigidly secured between the rails and reinforced bymembers 64 and It will be noted from Figure 12 that cross piece 47 ofthe upper jack which is in operative position, is upwardly bowed at itscentral portion. l Vhen the acl: is brought into inoperative position,this how, of course, extends rearwardly. Hung 56 is forwardly 0ft set orbowed at its central portion, so that due to the described relation ofthe parts, tongue 51 may swing entirely within the bounding planes ofthe rails. The ends of the rung 56, which serve as treads, are thusenabled to be disposed in line with the other rungs, thus obviating thepossibility of a inisstep. The ends of cross piece 47 are provided withfilling pieces or treads 60, which are presented when the jack is ininoperative position. l fhen the jack is to be brought into inoperativeposition, brace 53 may be folded back along tongue 51 and retained inthis position by a wing of anut 61 secured to the lower surface of plate52, Figure 15. its shown, nut 61 is frictionally controlled so as not tobe accidentally released. A similar nut 62 is arranged in the olfsetportion of rung 56, so as to engage a flange 63 on the underside oftongue 51. From the above, it will be seen that no matter in what mannerthe ladder is handled, the parts will always be maintained in theiradjusted positions.

The parts of the three jacks have been designated by the same referencecharacters. The above description has been made with particularreference to Figure 12, which shows the upper jacks. It will beunderstood, however, that the same description applies to Figure 6, theonly difference being that in the latter case the bowed or offsetportions of elements-47 and 56 will extend respectively forwardly andrearwardly, and brace 53 will. necessarily be somewhat longer.

In order that the surface directly in front of the top end of the laddermay be easily reached, it is desirable to space this end somewhat fromthe supporting surface. I accordingly provide the upper spacers,asparticularly illustrated, in Figures 13 and 14. These spaces eachconsist of an angle bar 65 provided at one end with a pointed element66, the point of which is backed up'by a collar to limit itspenetration. The other end of the spacer is pivoted by means of a rivet67 to a plate 68 securely fastened to a rail of the ladder. The downwardmovement of member 65 is positively limited by a clip 69 on plate 68,but it is desirable that the upward movement of this member from itsnormal extended position be not positively limited. This possibility ofmovement is desirable to permit the ladder to adjust itself relative tothe points 66 when it is on uneven or soft ground. It is obvious thatotherwise, the spacers would either be bent or the wall surface would bescratched. On the other hand,

if a free upward movement of member 65 were permitted, it would oftenhappen that in raising the ladder, it would fall back into derstood.

inoperative position shown in dotted lines Figure 13. Consequently, Ihave provider a friction oint between member and plate 68. As will beseen from Figure 14, plate 68 is dished at 70 away from the plane ofmember 65. Rivet 67 is suificiently shrunk to spring this dished portionsomewhat so that a considerable resistance is given to the movement ofmember 65. Rotatable clips 71 are provided on the top rung to retainmembers 65 in inoperative position.

From the above description and with particular reference to Figure 1,the manner Oil practicing my invention will be readily un- In Figure 1,an 18 foot studding hasbeen assumed, and all the jacks are in operativeposition. As shown, a plank is supported 011 the lower and uppermostjacks. The ladder at the extreme right is shown with the jacks ininoperative position, so as to be entirely out of the way of theoperator.

Having thus described my invention, claim: 1

1. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extendingscafi'old jack intermediate the base and central portion 01" the ladder,and a rearwardly extending jack ad-' jacent the top of the ladder, saidjacks including mounting members extending between the rails inpermanent connection therewith and serving as rungs.

2. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extendingscaffold jack intermediate the baseand central portion of the ladder,and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spaced longitudinally of theladder adjacent its upper end, said jacks including mounting membersextending between the rails in permanent connection therewith andserving as rungs.

8. In combination with a plural rail ladder,

a frontwardly extending scaffold jack intermediate the base and centralportion of the ladder, and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spacedlongitudinally of the ladder adjacent its upper end, said jacksincluding mounting members extending between the rails in permanentconnection therewith and serving as rungs, the mounting members of saidtop jacks being positioned as alternate rungs.

at. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extendingscaffold ack intermediate the base and central portion of ,the ladder,and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spaced longitudinally of theladder adjacent its upper end, said jacks including mounting membersextending between the rails in'permanent connection therewith andserving as rungs, the mounting members of said top jacks being spaced bysubstantially two to three feet.

5. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extendingscaiiold jack inter mediate the base and central portion of the ladder,and a rearwardly extending jack adjacent the top of the ladder, saidjacks 1neluding mounting members extending between the rails inpermanent connection therewith and serving as rungs and brace meansreleasable to permit them to swing into the plane of the rails.

6. In combination with a plural rail ladder,

a frontwardly extending scaiiold ack intermediate the base and centralportion of the ladder, and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spacedlongitudinally of the ladder adjacent its upper end, said jacksincluding mounting members extending between the rails in permanentconnection therewith and serving as rungs and brace means releasable topermit them to swing into the place of the rails. I

7 In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprising across piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as a rung,a tongue extendingfrom said cross piece in operative relation to theladder, and means to secure said tongue in such posit-ion said meansbeing releasable and said tongue being adapted upon such release toswing to ward the ladder; and a rung having an offset portion in theswinging path or said tongue to permit said tongue to swing within thebounding planes of said rails, the ends oi said rung being in the planeof the other rungs.

8. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprisinga cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as a runa ton ue extendin substantially reetangularly from the central portionof said cross piece in operative relation to the ladder, and means tosecure said tongue in such position, said means being releasable andsaid tongue being adapted upon such release to swing toward the ladder;and a rung in the swinging path of said tongue having an oii'set centralportion to receive said tongue within the bounding planes ofsaid rails,the ends of said rung being in the plane of the other rungs.

9. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprisinga cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as arung, a tongue extending from said cross piece in operative relation tothe ladder, a brace pivoted at one end to the free end of said tongueand engageable at its other end with an adjacent rung oi? the ladder tomaintain said tongue in operative position, said brace being releasablefrom said rung and foldable along said tongue whereby the two may beswung toward the ladder; said adjacent rung having an offsetportion toreceive said tongue and brace within the bounding planes of said rails,the ends of the ioo said rung being in the plane of the other rungs.

10. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a rung having its centralportion oil'- set toward one face of the ladder, its end portions beingin the plane of the other rungs, and a scaffold jack, said jackcomprising a cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder toserve as a rung, the central portion 01" said cross piece being o'fl'settoward the other face of the ladder, a tongue secured to theoi'fsetportion of said cross piece and extending within the plane of therails and within the offset portion of said first named rung, a pivotalmounting for said cross piece whereby said tongue may be swung intoangular operative relation to the ladder, and means to maintain thetongue in such relation. 7

11. In. combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jackcomprising a cross piece pivoted between the rails to serve as a rung, atongue extending from said cross piece in rigid connection therewith andadapted to swing from the plane of the rails into operative relation tothe ladder, means to secure said tongue in operative position, andtreads on said cross piece at each side of said tongue presented inoperative position when the tongue is in inoperative position.

12. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprisingan angle bar, pivoted between the rails to serve as a rung, a tongueextending from the central portion of said cross piece in rigidconnection therewith and adapted to swing from the plane of the railsinto operative relation to the ladder, means to secure said tongue inoperative position, and filler pieces in the end portions of said anglebar presented as treads when the jack is inoperative.

13. In combination with a plural rail eX- tension ladder comprisingupper and lower sections, a rearwardly extending jack adjacent the topof the upper section and a frontwardly extending jack on saiduppersection below the first-mentioned jack, said jacks being adapted tosupport a pair of scaffold planks in suitable vertically spaced workingrelation, said jacks including mounting menu'- leers extending betweenthe rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs.

lin testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'MARTIN BAUER.

